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Cough… cough…
Akshil was on his knees, hand on his stomach—he coughed blood with every breath.
"What just happened… cough…" Akshil gazed toward Nex, who lay on the road, his leg injured, trying to stand as Mayukh pointed a blazing sword at him.
Akshil's vision blurred, darkness creeping in at the edges. Move…!!!
He heard the others shouting as his consciousness faded. I was useless, huh…
---
Some moments ago—
What is happening? Why did he suddenly attack Aryan? Akshil panicked as he reinforced his body.
"At least say something!" Janvi shouted, now standing beside him.
But Mayukh didn't reply—his breathing heavy, his eyes empty.
Akshil clenched his fists. Why isn't he replying? This feels dangerous… something is wrong.
"Duck!" Akshil shouted as a strange sensation ran down his spine.
In the next second, ten blazing swords came flying toward them, narrowly missing, but the heat still burned their faces like the summer sun.
Ridhima lunged toward Mayukh. Her hands trembled slightly—not out of fear, but rage "What the hell are you doing!?" She summoned a small lightning arc and fired it at him.
"Stop!" Akshil shouted out of instinct.
Mayukh didn't flinch. He grabbed one of the blazing swords—his grip tight—and cut through the lightning like it was nothing.
Ridhima froze for a moment, unable to believe her eyes. "How did he—"
But a strange smile appeared on her face… a smile of excitement.
She held her hands together and then opened them toward Mayukh. "This is something I saw in a movie!"
A small bolt of lightning burst from her hands, engulfing the area in dust—bringing silence for a moment, as if time itself had stopped.
"What was that!?" Aryan's jaw dropped as he lay on the ground.
"We're both C-rank?" Janvi whispered.
Wait… is Mayank okay after that? Akshil squinted through the dust.
As the dust cleared, Mayukh stood there—unscratched and unmoved.
"MOVE!" Akshil screamed his lungs out.
But Ridhima didn't hear him—she was too shocked. The air around her warmed for a moment, her vision flashed white.
Beautiful… she thought as the blade Mayukh threw came inches from her eyes.
But the sword sliced through the air with a sharp whistle and slammed into a tree with a deafening crack—blasting it apart.
Ridhima was suddenly standing beside Aryan and Janvi. Janvi immediately hugged her tightly—holding her as if she couldn't understand what else to do after seeing how close Ridhima came to dying.
She could've died…. This isn't the Mayukh that I know Sweat ran down Akshil's forehead as a thousand thoughts collided in his mind. Wait, did she dodge? Is he here?
"What is happening?" a voice came from behind, Nex's voice. "I come here and the first thing I see are swords. What's going on?"
"You're late," Akshil said through clenched teeth. "I don't know what happened, but something is wrong with him."
Nex looked at Mayukh—still standing unnaturally still, eyes empty, fingers slightly trembling.
"I think we should get everyone out of here," Akshil said.
"That would be good, but even if I teleport all of you, I can't take you far. And we can't leave him here either," Nex replied. "If the others arrive, we might be able to restrain him."
Five swords formed around Mayukh again—this time burning even hotter.
"This feels ominous…" Akshil muttered as he glanced toward the other three.
Aryan met his eyes. "I'll help. How much time do we need?". He stood up.
"Five minutes. Or if we can knock him out sooner," Nex said.
"Okay." Both Akshil and Aryan clenched their fists.
Mayukh pointed a sword at them, and the other four flaming swords shot forward.
"If it's short range, I can handle it," Nex said as he teleported the three behind Mayukh.
Aryan dashed forward. Don't hit something this time.
He threw a punch—
But Mayukh shifted aside effortlessly and swung his sword toward Aryan's neck.
Nex teleported Aryan back at the last second.
Akshil, who was teleported behind Mayukh, threw a punch, pushing Mayukh back several meters despite the sword blocking it.
"Are you serious?" Akshil whispered in disbelief.
Is it his battle instinct ability…? Is he reacting to bloodlust? Nex's mind raced as he teleported the two back and forth.
But it wasn't doing much. They were barely scratching him.
Mayukh lunged again—Nex teleported Aryan away—but this time Mayukh summoned two blazing daggers and threw them at Nex.
Nex noticed too late, but two blue barriers appeared in front of him—giving him enough time to teleport before they shattered.
Then a bolt of lightning flashed toward Mayukh—but he sliced it effortlessly.
"We'll help you too!" Janvi shouted, forming more barriers.
"Can we even do anything to him…?" Akshil muttered.
Aryan jumped at Mayukh again while Nex teleported Akshil behind him. Mayukh dodged Aryan, but Akshil punched him in the face, and Ridhima's lightning made Mayukh stumble.
Please… this time… something at least… Akshil clenched his fist tighter.
Mayukh froze for a second—like he was out of breath.
Suddenly, a giant flaming hammer appeared and launched toward Ridhima.
"MOVE!" Aryan sprinted. Janvi summoned a denser barrier, stopping the hammer for a moment—long enough for Aryan to push Ridhima out of the way. But Aryan lost control and the two rolled across the road.
In the chaos, Mayukh summoned another sword and hurled it at Nex. Nex teleported, but he suddenly collapsed, legs unable to hold him.
What…?
He looked down—
A dagger was lodged deep in his thigh.
When? How? Did he predict where I would teleport? I need to move—
On the other side, Akshil charged at Mayukh. I'll put everything into this.
He concentrated all his strength into his fist and punched—
But this time, his fist hit a floating shield.
"What—"
A punch landed in his stomach, sending him flying—Mayukh's punch.
Akshil's legs gave out and he dropped to his knees. How is he so strong…?
Blood dripped from his mouth with each cough.
"What just happened… cough…" His eyes searched for Nex and spotted him on the roadside, struggling to stand.
"Akshil! Stay awake!" Aryan screamed, trying to stand but collapsing again. What is wrong with these legs…
"I can't... I can't summon any lightning!" Ridhima panicked, tiny sparks flickering uselessly at her fingertips.
"My mana is completely exhausted… I can't make barriers… are we gonna die?" Janvi cried.
I need to go to Nex… he might be able to teleport Akshil somewhere safe… Aryan desperately looked around.
"Nex!" he shouted.
Nex growled in pain.
Is everyone down…? What happened to Akshil? Was I wrong trying to save everyone? Should I have teleported them away earlier? But what about Mayukh… what happened to him? Is it mind control? But how did he get so strong—
"Nex!" Aryan screamed again.
Nex snapped back to reality—
But it was too late.
A sword was already inches away from his face.
To be continued...
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